Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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303. To ask the Minister for Defence the reason for the delay in obtaining security clearance for applicants to the 27th infantry battalion reserve (details supplied); if the delay is caused by Garda Síochána or military processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42736/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A large number of applicants have been medically examined, fitness tested and interviewed over 12 months ago. Applicants to the Reserve Defence Force are vetted by the Garda Central Vetting Unit as part of the recruitment process. Processing times for vetting of applications in this regard on average take up to 10 to 12 weeks. However, in some individual cases, additional enquiries may be necessary and this may result in processing times in excess of the average.

I am informed by the military authorities that a total of 15 applicants for the 27th Infantry Battalion reserve are currently waiting on security clearance. It would not be appropriate to comment further on individual applications.